Cooking Turkey Giblets in an Instant Pot – A Simple and Delicious Guide

Some people consider offals like chicken gizzards and hearts as nasty bits They are usually the “Unwanted”. All these nasty bits including kidney, beef tripe, livers are popular in Asia. My mom cooked them often when we were kids. That’s probably how I got used to this.

Gizzards are like the second stomach in many birds. They are pretty muscular and it helps to breakdown seeds and other tough foods. It’s like a grinder for the birds.

Turkey giblets which include the neck, heart gizzard and liver, are often included in the cavity of a whole turkey. While many people discard them, these nutritious and flavorful parts can be used to make a delicious broth or gravy. Cooking giblets in an Instant Pot is a quick and easy way to put them to good use.

In this article, I’ll provide a simple step-by-step guide to cooking turkey giblets in an Instant Pot, along with some recipe ideas for how to use the giblet broth.

Benefits of Cooking Turkey Giblets

Here are some of the benefits of using an Instant Pot to cook turkey giblets

Saves time – Pressure cooking giblets is much faster than simmering them on the stovetop. You can have giblet broth ready in an hour or less.
Extracts more flavor – The high pressure extracts more gelatin and collagen from the giblets, resulting in a rich, flavorful broth.
Uses the whole bird – Cooking the giblets prevents any part of the turkey from going to waste,
Adds extra nutrition – Organ meats like giblets are nutritionally-dense, providing protein, vitamins and minerals.
Enhances gravy & stuffing – The giblet broth makes an incredible base for gravy and moistens stuffing with savory flavor.

Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Giblets

Cooking turkey giblets in an Instant Pot is simple to do. Just follow these easy steps:

1. Prep the Giblets

Rinse the giblets well and pat dry. Trim off any excess fat or membranes. Separate the liver and keep it refrigerated for other uses. Cut the gizzard in half and add it to the Instant Pot along with the heart and neck.

Tip: The liver can be used to make chopped liver or you can sauté it for an extra-meaty gravy.

2. Brown the Giblets

Turn the Instant Pot to the sauté function. Add 1 tbsp oil and let it heat up. Add the giblets and brown them lightly on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Browning adds richer flavor.

3. Add Aromatics

Next, add aromatics like onions, carrots, celery and garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. The vegetables will add sweetness and texture to the broth.

4. Pour in Water

Pour 6 cups of water into the Instant Pot. Chicken or turkey stock can also be used for more flavor. Add bay leaves, peppercorns or other herbs and seasonings if desired.

5. Pressure Cook

Lock the lid and pressure cook on high for 15 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes before opening the lid.

6. Strain the Broth

Use a slotted spoon to remove the solids from the broth in the Instant Pot inner pot. Strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl or container.

The Instant Pot turkey giblet broth is now ready to use! It will keep 4-5 days refrigerated or freeze for several months.

Tips for the Best Instant Pot Turkey Giblet Broth

Use equal parts water and chicken/turkey stock for a richer broth.
Add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to help extract minerals from the bones.
For darker broth, brown the giblets well and add tomato paste while sautéing.
Use necks and wings for extra collagen instead of just giblets.
Let the pressure release naturally to get the most gelatin extraction.
Skim the fat after cooling for a clearer broth.

Recipe Ideas for Using Turkey Giblet Broth

The savory turkey giblet broth can be used in all sorts of recipes:

Thanksgiving Gravy

For the most flavorful gravy, use the giblet broth instead of plain water or stock when making your gravy. Whisk in flour to thicken, then stir in pan drippings.

Stuffing or Dressing

Moisten bread stuffing with the giblet broth for incredible richness and turkey flavor.

Rice or Grains

Cook rice, quinoa or other grains in the giblet broth for added aroma and nutrition.

Turkey Soup

Simmer vegetables in the broth with turkey meat for a hearty and healthy soup.

Braised Vegetables

Braise vegetables like green beans, carrots or kale in the broth.

Risotto

Make creamy risotto extra savory by using giblet broth as the cooking liquid.

Pasta Sauce

Thinly slice giblets and simmer in tomato sauce for a meaty Bolognese-style pasta topper.

Pet Food Topper

Dogs and cats love turkey broth drizzled over their regular food!

Cooking turkey giblets in an Instant Pot is one of the easiest ways to use the whole bird this holiday season. The broth extracts maximum flavor and nutrition from the neck, gizzard, heart and liver. Use the savory broth to make gravy, stuffing, soup and more for delicious Instant Pot turkey recipes. With the simple guide above, you’ll be ready to put those giblets to good use. Give it a try this Thanksgiving!

instant pot turkey giblets

WHY I LIKE GIZZARDS

1. INEXPENSIVE One pound of the mixture of chicken gizzards and hearts (mostly gizzards) only cost me less than $2.50. 2. NUTRITIOUS They are low in calories, high in protein, low in fat, and zero carbs 3.5 oz of gizzards has about 95 calories, 5 grams of protein, 0.6 grams of fat, 0 carbs, 3. TASTY (really?) Really! They don’t really taste like chicken. It’s like meat with a firm texture. When you properly cook them they are not tough or chewy. When they are tough and chewy, they aren’t cooked long enough yet

HOW TO CLEAN GIZZARDS

There isn’t much you need to do to clean chicken gizzards. Here’s how: 1. For large size gizzards like turkey, cut the gizzards in half 2. Rinse with water to get rid of any sediments or tough seeds you may see 3. If you see any yellowish membrane on the outside, simply cut or peel it off and remove it 4. Trim off any excess lining (whitish in color) or fat if you see any with kitchen shears

Instant Pot Turkey Necks inspired by Rosie Mayes Recipe

FAQ

What do I do with the turkey giblets?

“When cooking giblets for gravy or stuffing, you can simply roast them in the pan with your turkey or simmer them in water with some celery and onions to make a giblet stock. Then, chop the giblets and use in your gravy or stuffing,” Nolan said.

How long should giblets be cooked?

Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the giblets begin to tenderize, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Is it okay to cook turkey with giblets inside?

A whole turkey usually has a package with the giblets and neck tucked inside. If the giblets are wrapped in paper, which is the case with most whole birds, there is no safety concern if they cook completely inside the bird. If the giblets are wrapped in plastic, however, they need to be removed.

What’s the difference between turkey gizzards and giblets?

Giblets refers to the little bundle of parts sometimes found inside the cavity of a bird, such as chicken or turkey. Usually the giblets includes the neck, the gizzard (a muscle that grinds up food before it enters the digestive system – think of it as a second stomach), the heart, and the liver.

How to cook Turkey giblets in Instant Pot?

Brown the turkey giblets: Heat the vegetable oil in an Instant Pot set to sauté mode adjusted to high (medium-high heat in a stovetop pressure cooker). When the oil starts shimmering, add the turkey giblets – the neck, heart, gizzard, and butt. Cook without moving until browned on the bottom, about 3 minutes.

How do you cook giblets in an Instant Pot?

Heat some olive oil over medium-high heat or on sauté mode if using the Instant Pot. Add the neck and the giblets in a single layer and allow them to sear, undisturbed, for several minutes until they start to brown. Add the onion quarters, carrot, celery, and garlic. Allow them to brown, stirring only occasionally, until all sides brown evenly.

How to cook Turkey Gravy in Instant Pot?

This gravy is delicious, healthy, and full of flavour. Even better this turkey gravy is 100% free of stock cubes, gravy granules and cornflour. Load everything together into the instant pot inner pot. Place the lid on the instant pot, set the valve to sealing and cook for 45 minutes on manual/pressure cook.

How do you cook a Turkey in an Instant Pot?

If the gravy is too thick, thin to the desired consistency with additional turkey stock. Preheat a 6-quart Instant Pot® using the saute setting on high (see Cook’s Note). Add 2 tablespoons oil to the pot and brown your turkey pieces in batches, adding more oil as needed, until golden brown on all sides, 3 to 5 minutes per side.